Sana Behdin is a final-year PharmD candidate and Abby Le is a third-year PharmD candidate at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy.
At the 2025 APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition in Nashville this past March, the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy’s APhA–ASP Chapter was honored to receive the 2023–2024 national OTC Medicine Safety Award. This recognition reflected our chapter’s creativity and dedication in promoting safe use of OTC medications. Our chapter sought to expand the impact of OTC Medicine Safety by engaging diverse audiences, leading to a wide range of high-impact initiatives that collectively reached more than 540 individuals, including children, caregivers, and older adults.
Adapting messaging by age group
One of the most innovative OTC Medicine Safety initiatives was our involvement in the B’More Healthy Expo, a large-scale community event held at the Baltimore Convention Center. Unlike traditional OTC education events that primarily focus on children and parents, this outreach allowed us to engage both older adults and young children, two populations at opposite ends of the age spectrum, but both vulnerable to medication misuse.
Through interactive education tools like the “candy vs. medicine” game and tailored counseling messages, student pharmacists provided more than 300 attendees with guidance on medication storage, drug–drug interactions, and poison center resources. The ability to adapt our messaging by age group made this event a standout moment in our campaign.
Successful new initiatives
Our chapter prioritized leadership development through committee-based initiatives, particularly the OTC x SUD fall committee meeting. Led by two third-year student pharmacists, the meeting provided participants with foundational knowledge on topics such as naloxone, the Good Samaritan Law, and the recent FDA update on phenylephrine. A Kahoot quiz reinforced learning in an engaging way. This session educated participants on relevant topics while providing them with the tools and confidence to contribute meaningfully to future outreach events.
Our chapter also launched a new initiative at Safeway Pharmacy, where student pharmacists conducted an interactive poster activity on cold versus flu symptoms and promoted vaccination and safe medication choices. During the event, a shopper approached our table, unsure if his symptoms were due to allergies or illness. Student pharmacists provided personalized counseling, helping him understand his symptoms, select an appropriate OTC medication, and learn best practices for managing seasonal allergies. He left feeling informed and supported, reflecting our chapter’s commitment to compassionate and patient-centered education.
Full-circle moment
As the APhA2025 Awards Celebration progressed, we listened intently, hearts racing with anticipation. Hearing the presenter list event after event that mirrored our chapter’s efforts, we realized just how much we had accomplished. Once it was confirmed that our chapter had won, the room filled with cheers and we were overwhelmed with emotion. It was a full-circle moment that affirmed the hard work of dozens of student pharmacists and highlighted the value of community-centered outreach. Receiving the award was a proud and unforgettable moment, made possible by the incredible support of our faculty advisors, community partners, and the APhA–ASP community.
This national recognition serves as a powerful motivator for our chapter to continue innovating and expanding our outreach efforts, as we strive to continue making impacts on the health and well-being of our communities.